Electric horn button



May 16, 1933. J. J. WHARAM ELECTRIC HORN BUTTON Filed Feb. 4, 1951 IN V EN TOR.

M'fn ess. e@ f@ A TTORNEY.

Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED STATES PTET OFFICE JOHN J. \VHARAM, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T FORD MOTOR COMPANY, OF DEARBORN, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE ELECTRIC HORN BUTTON Application filed February 4, 1931.

The object of my invention is to provide an electric horn button of simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

y A further object of my invention is to pro- .5 vide a horn button suitable for use in connection with an automobile steering wheel.

Still, a further object of my invention is to provide a horn button through which two electric horns may be operated either inde- "19 pendently or concurrently. One of these horns is designed to produce a warning signal of pleasing tone and of moderate intensity which will be used under most conditions. The other horn is designed to produce a loud 15. penetrating danger signal which will be used only in cases of emergency. Although it is not essential, it is thought preferable to provide horns having the individual tones produced thereby of such frequency that when 20 both horns are operated together a pleasing musical chord will be produced. My improved horn button is so designed that by pressing the button adjacent to one side of the steering wheel the warning signal is sounded and b-y pressing the button adjacent to the opposite side of the wheel the danger signal is operated. Still further, by centrally pressing the? button both of the signals are simultaneously operated. In this manner I am able to produce three distinct signals by the operation of only one horn button.

Still, a further object of my invention is to provide a horn button mounted in the central portion of a steering wheel and non-rotatably held'therein so that rotation of the steering wheel will not rotate the button thereby retaining the three operation positions of the button in fixed relation relative to the driver. An improved means for holding my horn button stationary is provided, which means consist of a relatively large stationary tube which extends up through the steering` column. I am aware that stationary tubes have been used for non-rotatably mounting devices at the center of such steering wheels but these tubes invariably have been disposed inside of the several concentric control lever tubes which are rotatably mounted within the steering shaft. Such stationary tubes must therefore be of rela- Serial No. 513,370.

tively small diameter which allows a considerable twist of iieXing at the upper end of the tube when the controls are operated. It is the purpose of this invention to provide a large stationary tube wit-hin the steering shaft and to rotatably mount the control tubes therein while at the same time providing means for non-rotatably securing the horn button at the center of the steering wheel to thereby prevent appreciable twist of the but `ton and to prevent rotation of the steering wheel 'from aiiecting the control tubes.

lNith these and other objects in View my invention consists in the arrangement, construction and combination of the various parts of my improved device, as described in the speciiication, claimed in my claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l shows a plan View of a steering wheel having my improved horn button installed thereon.

Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 shows a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 show diagrammatic views illustrating the off, first, second and concurrent positions of the horn button, respectively.

Figure 9 shows diagrammatically an alternate structure wherein only one horn is used but two signals are produced thereby through the use oi my improved horn button, and

Figure l() shows a sectional View taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 2. Y

Referring to the accompanying drawing, I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate an automobile steering wheel. This wheel is formed integrally with a hub member 11 which is keyed to a steering shaft 12, this shaft being rotatably mounted in a steering column 13. Means must necessarily be provided for operating the carburetor, distributor and light switch of the vehicle. I have arranged to incorporate these three controls together with my improved horn button at the center of the steering wheel, and

to accomplish this I extend a plurality of rotatable concentric tube members up through a stationary tube 15 which is mounted within the steering shaft 12. An annular depression 14 is formed in the upper face of the hub member 11 and a plurality of nested cups are provided therein, each of which is connected to the upper end of-one of the control tube members, the larger cup being connected to the outer control tube while each inner tube extends up through the bottom of the preceding cup. The center tube is therefore connected to the smaller of the cup members. To operate the control tubes levers are provided extending from the rims of the cup members so that by rotation of the cups the concentric tubes will also be rotated. Suitable operating rods are connected to each of these cont-rol tubes where they emerge from the lower end of the steering shaft, which rods extend to the various apparatus, i. e. carburetor, distributor, etc.

A stationary tube 15 extends up through the inside of the steering shaft 12, the lower end of this tube being held against rotation at the point where it projects out through the lower end of the steering shaft. The upper end of this tube is provided with a radially extending flange upon which the control tube cup members are mounted. Rotatably mounted within the stationary tube 15, I have provided a control tube 24 which porjects a short distance from each end pf the stationary tube. The upper end of this control -tubc 24 is flanged radially to form the bottom of a cup member 16 which is housed in the depression 14 on the flange 25. A control lever 17 extends radially from the rim of the cup member 16 so that this cup member and likewise the tube 24 may be rotated by operating the lever 17.

In like manner, a control tube 18 extends up through the tube 24 and is rotatably mounted therein, the upper end of this tube 18 being` connected to the bottom of a cup member 19 nested within the cup 16. A lever 20 extends radially from one portion of the rim of this cup through which the control tube may be operated.

v An inner concentric tube 21 is rotatably mounted within the tube 18 and is provided with a third cup member 22 secured to its upper end and nesting within the cup 19 and which is likewise provided with a lever 23 extending radially from one portion of its yrim. This cup member w forms the housing in which my improved horn button is mounted.

It will'be noted that each of the above nicntioned cups are housed within each other, the assembly being housed within the depression'14 so that the control levers lie substantially flush with the face of the steering wheel.

Referring to Figure 10, the bottom of each cup member is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed segmental slots punched therein, the pairs of slots in each of these cup members being aligned with each other. A pair of studs 2G are riveted to the flange and extend upwardly through the slots 35 where a plate 27 is secured thereto by a pair of nuts 28 which are threaded down over the outer ends of the studs. Thus, a limited rotary movement is allowed for each of the cup members, which movement is ample to take care of the rotation necessary to operate the particular control. In order that rattle between the cup members may be prevented, I have provided a flexible disc 44 interposed between the plate 27 and the bottom of the cup member 22 which disc is stressed when the parts are assembled thereby resiliently holding the members together.

An inverted cup-shaped housing 29 having its rim portion flanged outwardly is secured between the plate 27 and the nuts 28 to thereby be securely fastened on the plate. The central portion of this cup member is perforated to receive a shoulder contact member 30 which extends therethrough, the head of the contacting member being inside of the housing. T he outer end of this contact member is threaded into a button 31 so that by pressing this button the contact 3() will be moved inwardly into the housing 29. A helical spring 32 is disposed around the outside ol the housing 29 and extends from the plate 27 up to the underside of the button 31 to thereby at all times resilienitly urge this button to its disengaged position. A suitable clectrixal connection is provided for the upper end of the spring and contact 3() so that this Contact remains grounded at all times.

Disposed within the housing 29 and above the plate 27, I have provided a cylindrical block of insulation 34. Means are shown for non-rotatably securing this block in the housing, which means consist of a recess 48 which is molded in one side of this block in which a tongue 49, stamped from the housing, is pressed. Thistongue retains the block in place and prevents rotation thereof.

A pair of insulated wires 33 extend up through the control tube 21 and the upper end of each of these wires is secured to one of a pair of terminal screws. 36 and 37, respectively. These screws are laterally spaced and project slightly from the top of the block 34 so that by pressing the button 31 the contact member 30 will be grounded to either or both of the screws 36 and 37.

The electrical diagram according to which it is preferable to hook up this device is shown by Figures 5 through 8. The wires 33, as

has been mentioned, extend from the termi nals 36 and 37 respectively down through the steering column where one end of one wire is secured to one terminal of a moderately pitched horn 39, while the other wire 33 is secured to one terminal of a loud danger proses PEO

ducing signal horn 40. The two remaining terminals of these horns are connected. to a common lead which extends to one terminal el' a battery 41, the other terminal ot which 5 is grounded.

Referring to Figure 5, it will be seen that when the button 3l is in its normal or inoperative position no current will iiow from the battery through either of the horns, 39 or 40. However, when the button 31 is pressed at the point shown by the arrow 42 the contact 30 will ground the terminal 37 which will allow current to flow from the battery 3l through the loud signal horn 40 thereby producing an intensive penetrating danger signal. When the horn is pressed at the opposite side, as shown by the arrow 43, the terminal 36 will be grounded thereby energia ing the warning signal horn 39 to operate this horn individually. It will thus be seen that by rocking the button 43 the horns 39 and 40 mav be alternately operated and that by centrally depressing' the button 30, as shown in Figure 8, the horns may be simultaneously operated. In order that the combined sound, although loud, may not be a harsh noise, the horns 39 and 40 should be so adjusted that a musical note or chord will be produced thereby.

Referring to Figure 9, an arrangement is shown whereby only one horn is required to provide both a loud and a moderately intense signal. Although this device is not deemed as preferable as the foregoing described device, it is still suit-able for many installations and is much superior to the single horn with which the ordinary car is equipped. It will be noted that al single horn 45 is interposed between the battery 41 and the lead wire 33, which lead wire is directly connected to trie terminal 37 and is indirectly connected to the terminal 36 by means ot an adjustable rheostat 46. Thus, when the button 3l contacts with the terminal 37 the maximum sound ot the horn 45 is provided, while when the button is contacted with the contact screw 36, a weaker signal is produced by the horn due to the drop in voltage caused by the rheostat 46. It will be noted that centrally pressing the button does no more than operate the horn 45 at its full intensity.

Referringr to Figures 2 and 3, a plate 38 is secured to the upper ends ot the studs 26 by means of a pair of screws 47 which are threaded into the ends of the studs. The purpose of this plate is to present a neat appearance to the device by hiding from view the spring 32 and the studs 26. A further function of the plate 38 is accomplished in supporting the rim portions of the various cup members. As has been stated, the plate 38 is iXedly anchored to the studs 26, which are likewise anchored to the stationary flange 21. Thus, this plate is quite rigidly supported in the steering wheel. The cup member 22 being termed on the outer end of the relatively small tube 21 would likely work loose from this tube during the :frequent operations ot the light switch if it were not for the support oi'lered by the plate 38. The outer edge of the plate 38 pilots the cup member 22 so that a very rigid mounting is provided for this cup 22. It will be noted that the flanged edges ofthe cup fits nicely within the cup 19 which likewise lits within the cup 16 so that all three of these cups are more or less supported by the plate 38.

Among the many advantages arising from the use of my improved device, it may be well to mention that I have provided a single horn button capable of operating two independent horns to thereby provide three distinct signals for the vehicle. Further, these signals are readily obtained by Vthe driver by rocking the horn button from one side to the other.

Still further, I have provided an improved means whereby the horn button is prevented from rotating relative to the control levers and steering wheel, which means utilizes the rigidty of a relatively large stationary tube. My novel arrangement whereby a. pair of studs extend upwardly through diametrically opposed segmental slots is believed to be new and provides an improved method whereby my horn button is non-rotatably mounted.

Still further, the means whereby the varions control tube cup members in the device are resiliently urged into rictional engagement with each other to prevent rattle therebetween is also believed to be new and is undoubtedly of merit.

Some changes may be made in the arrangement, construction and combination of the various parts of my improved device without departing from the spirit of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claim, such changes as may reasonably be included within the scope thereof.

I claim as my invention:

A horn button comprising a metallic cupshaped housing having its rim portion flanged outwardly to form a supporting base, a contact screw extending through a suitable opening in the center portion of said housing So as to be loosely secured therein, the head of said screw being disposed within the housing, an operating button threaded on the outer end of said cont-act screw whereby said screw may be either moved axially or rocked from one side to the other, a coil spring disposed between the underside of said button and the adjacent side of the housing flange to thereby resiliently urge the contact screw to its outer position, a cylindrical non-conducting terminal block disposed within said housing and axially aligned with said contact screw, said block having a pair of radially spaced terminal screws projecting from one i end thereof in position so that rocking said button will form an electric connection between said contact screw and either or both of said terminal screws, and a plate surrounding saidspring and spaced in position beneath the rim of said button whereby said Contact screw when rocked will'bear a ainstl one terminal screw while the rim o said button bears against said plate to thereby prevent breakage of said button from excessive pressure thereon.

J OHN J. WHARAM. 

